Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is a change from the amendment proposed on Committee Stage. That amendment included public consultation, which the Minister said would be somewhat expensive. The information sought here about comparative pension ages etc. throughout Europe would be very interesting, particularly given that the pension-age increase to 67 will kick in in 2021. Of course, we as a Parliament can change that. We do not have to implement it. The information sought would be very useful in our considerations on that matter. I believe the Minister indicated that if the consultation element was dropped, she would be disposed to accept the amendment and I ask her to do so.

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